Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

Director of Alumni and Parent Relations
University of Puget Sound
Job ID: 5504
Location:
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular Staff Posting Details

Appointment: Regular, full time 1.0 FTE

Position Summary: The director of alumni and parent relations leads, manages, and directs the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations as it seeks to involve and engage alumni, and parents of current and former students, in the life of the University of Puget Sound. Through a wide variety of programming, volunteer opportunities, and multi-media communications, the director will lead the office in building strong ties among alumni, students (as future alumni), parents, and the university. A member of the university relations management team, the director will work closely with the development, advancement services, and communications offices as well as with virtually all members of the university community including its talented and highly accomplished faculty to create and implement programming and volunteer opportunities to engage constituents. The director provides staff leadership to the Alumni and Parents Councils as they engage alumni and parents in meaningful and impactful work. The director reports to the associate vice president for university relations and supervises a department of six.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage, and direct the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations as it seeks to involve and engage alumni, students, and parents of current and former students in the life of the University of Puget Sound.
• Work with the Alumni and Parents Councils to recruit and manage alumni and parent volunteers who are engaged across the university in meaningful work. Work with campus partners to ensure quality volunteer experiences for all volunteers. Attain, track, and report on all volunteer recruitment goals.
• Work with the vice president for university relations and the associate vice president for constituent relations to set the strategic direction for the Alumni and Parents Councils and to coordinate the involvement of university leadership in furthering the work of these groups.
• Provide leadership and supervision to the staff of the office of alumni and parent relations and manage the office's day-to-day operations.
• Continue to build a class-based engagement structure at the University of Puget Sound that begins with the student experience and continues through the 50th reunion and beyond. Lead the recruitment and engagement of class officers and a robust class reunion program that facilitates increased ownership and pride among class volunteer leadership. Partner with colleagues in the Office of Annual Giving in this work.
• Continue to develop and improve all of Puget Sound's signature alumni and parent programming including Summer Reunion Weekend, Alumni College, Homecoming and Family Weekend, and Commencement.
• Continue to develop the university's national presence through regionally-based club programming and virtual programming.
• Work with the Alumni Council and campus partners in the Offices of Admission, Annual Giving, Athletics, Career and Employment Services, and Student Affairs to develop a plan for introducing students to the idea of lifelong affiliation with the university and engaging students with alumni from the start of their time on campus. Determine the viability of the Student Alumni Association while also considering other models that advance the university's goals in this area.
• Establish and achieve Alumni and Parent Relations contact staff goals for face-to-face constituent visits for volunteer recruitment, stewardship, and orientation purposes, including visit documentation and follow-up.
• Develop and implement innovative strategies for engaging alumni and parents through creative and effective print, digital, and Web content. Build a strong social media presence for engaging alumni and parents in the work of the Alumni and Parents Councils.
• Leverage data analytics, including alumni attachment scores, volunteer satisfaction indices, and alumni survey data to inform enhancements, shifts, and course corrections in strategies and tactics for engaging alumni, parents, and students.
• Serve as a member of the University Relations management team, effectively contributing to the planning and goalsetting for the division.
• Represent the University of Puget Sound in a consistently professional and ethical manner.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises the three assistant/associate directors and one office manager.

Budget Responsibilities

Manages office budgets and prepares budget variance and other reports as needed and in accordance with established deadlines.

Qualifications:

• Five to eight years of experience managing alumni and parent programming, preferably at a small liberal arts institution;
• A track record of program development and implementation, reporting and analysis;
• Significant experience working productively with alumni and parent volunteers;
• The ability to work and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with a broad range of internal and external constituents including faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and friends of the university;
• The ability to work independently, solve problems, handle confidential information, and navigate sensitive situations;
• Superior management and personnel skills, and a track record of leading, managing, and motivating a team to meet and exceed goals;
• Highly developed computer skills including experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as constituent relations software such as Best Millennium;
• Excellent organizational and planning skills as well as superior attentiveness to detail;
• A bachelor's degree;
• A commitment to working with colleagues and volunteers from diverse backgrounds and fostering an inclusive work environment; and
• Ability to travel locally and work some evenings and weekends.
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Compensation and Benefits: Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/overview-of-university-benefit/.

Application Deadline: Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background inquiry and if applicable for the position, drug screen, physical test and functional assessment.

Diversity Statement:

• We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.
• We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.
• We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/diversity-at-puget-sound/

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.



How to Apply
For complete job description and application instructions, visit: www.pugetsound.edu/employment

About Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a selective national liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, drawing 2,600 students from 48 states and 20 countries. Puget Sound graduates include Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, notables in the arts and culture, entrepreneurs and elected officials, and leaders in business and finance locally and throughout the world. A low student-faculty ratio provides Puget Sound students with personal attention from faculty who have a strong commitment to teaching and offer 1,200 courses each year in more than 40 traditional and interdisciplinary fields, including graduate programs in occupational and physical therapy and in education. Puget Sound is the only nationally ranked independent undergraduate liberal arts college in Western Washington, and one of just five independent colleges in the Pacific Northwest granted a charter by Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic honorary society. Visit "About Puget Sound" (http://www.pugetsound.edu/about) to learn more about the college.

As a strategic goal and through our core values, University of Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. EOE/AA





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